August 2022 E-Newsletter

Summer feels like it is winding down, but here at NCLC, we are still going strong. In this newsletter, we share six upcoming events that allow you to connect with friends and nature, from guided hikes to social networking opportunities. In addition, the return of an in-person Annual Picnic on September 24 in Sherman is not to be missed. Click here to read the full newsletter.
In addition, we share a new video, a Midsummer Party update, four recent conservation publications, and employment opportunities here at NCLC.
I hope to have the opportunity to see you at one of our upcoming events. And, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have questions about our work or would like to become more involved.
Thank you for your support of the land, conservation, and NCLC.

Spotted: Red-headed Woodpecker

 An NCLC member shared this terrific photo of an adult Red-headed Woodpecker. Red-headed woodpeckers are endangered in the state of Connecticut. It is one of the rarest breeding birds in the state.
What does this woodpecker have in common with squirrels? This bird stashes food. Four of the 23 woodpecker species in North America are known to store food, but only the red-headed woodpecker covers its stash with wood or bark. These birds will stash insects, seeds, and acorns into cracks in trees, fence posts, and even shingles. They are also strong fliers and able to catch insects, like grasshoppers, in flight.
Red-headed woodpeckers breed in deciduous forests of oak or beech and depend on dead or dying trees to build their nests. The decline in Connecticut is due to habitat loss as pasture, woodlots, orchards, and beaver swamps have been lost to development and other land use changes. As a regional land trust, NCLC strives to protect and connect the varied habitats found in our state.
Have you seen a spectacular bird lately? We love to hear reports from members.

NCLC Presents: Wildlife Cameras 101

Connecticut’s woods are full of life. Do you know who your animal neighbors are?
Wildlife cameras offer a fascinating glimpse of animal life. Join us as we look back at NCLC’s best wildlife videos of 2021. Summer Hoogenboom, wildlife biologist and NCLC volunteer, will offer context for the animal behavior displayed in these short clips. Summer will also provide guidance for getting a wildlife camera started in your own backyard.

Video: Make Your Yard a Haven for Birds

Enjoy the songs and colors of birds by creating a yard that will attract and support our feathered friends.  In this event recording, Becca Rodomsky-Bish, of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, shares the vital role native plants play in providing food and shelter for birds.

Becca Rodomsky-Bish is a project leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Her areas of expertise include native habitat, sustainability, and education. One of her projects is the Great Backyard Bird Count.

 

February News: What We Gain From Time Outside

“We cannot protect something we do not love, we cannot love what we do not know, and we cannot know what we do not see. And touch. And hear.” – Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods
If we have learned anything over the past several years, it is that nature is essential for our individual and community well-being.
As February ends, all of us at NCLC are looking forward to the warmer days of spring and more time spent outdoors enjoying nature’s health benefits. To help you look forward to these good things, too, in this newsletter, we share a video from NCLC and The Equus Effect on the therapeutic benefits of conservation. In addition, we have several upcoming member events, a member-submitted nature video, and we welcome a new staff member to our NCLC team.

Recording: 2021 Annual Meeting

NCLC held its Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 20.  Missed the meeting? We’ve posted a recording so you can learn how NCLC uses the latest science to prioritize our conservation acquisitions, moving rapidly to protect new lands now, and taking bold, local action to address the challenges of global climate change.

September News – Common Ground, New Video, Family Hikes For You

In this month’s newsletter, I am pleased to share a new video with stories about the public benefits of conservation. In addition, NCLC has several upcoming events that you can read about below. Of particular note, NCLC is honored to co-present this month’s Common Ground with Jane Whitney. The episode, Climate Change: Sunrise or Sunset? features an expert panel of speakers, including John Kerry and Bill McKibbin. I hope you will join us in attendance.
Lastly, I am happy to share a 10-minute member survey. This year NCLC is undertaking strategic planning, and your feedback is essential to that process. Your responses will help inform and guide our conservation programs in the upcoming years. Click to continue reading.

Watch Our Video: Stories from the Land